IT System – On-Premise or in the Cloud? A guide for manufacturing companies

Many business owners ask us one key question: “Is it better to install the production management system locally or in the cloud?”. If you’re asking yourself the same thing, prepare for some disappointment: the answer isn’t straightforward, because in practice it’s not a matter of “either-or.” It’s a full decision-making process about how flexible and scalable your system should be.

In this article, we explain the architecture of explitia’s solutions, outline the technical requirements, describe how mobile access works, and show when it’s better to choose local infrastructure and when to go cloud-based.

Industrial systems differ not only in functionality but also in how they operate. explitia’s solutions are designed using web technology, based on a client-server architecture.

What does this mean in practice? The client (the user) accesses the system via a web browser, while the main computations are performed by the server. This means your device – computer, tablet, or operator panel – doesn’t have to meet demanding hardware requirements.

This approach reduces project costs, since there’s no need to buy powerful computers for every workstation. Most operations are handled by the server – whether local or cloud-based – while users interact with intuitive web interfaces.

A production system can be implemented in three models:

In industry, the on-premise model is most commonly chosen – mainly due to production continuity and security concerns. However, more and more companies are opting for a hybrid model, especially in projects using artificial intelligence or advanced data analytics.

For many companies, digitalization starts with a pilot project. Contrary to popular belief, this doesn’t require massive investment in hardware.

Even a computer worth around 10,000 PLN may be sufficient for the initial implementation. As the project grows, the infrastructure can be easily expanded, moved to the cloud, or vice versa.

The system operates on a web-based architecture, so:

This flexible approach makes explitia’s solutions suitable for both large factories and smaller plants just starting their digitalization journey.

You might wonder whether a VPN is necessary to use the system. The answer: not always. Remote access can be achieved either through the cloud or a local server, as long as the facility has the right connection and network configuration.

You don’t need the cloud to work remotely, but… the cloud gives you something else – cost flexibility. In the on-premise model, you buy a server and depreciate it over years. In the cloud model, you pay only for the computing power you actually use. If you need fewer resources one month, your costs go down.

It’s a bit like a streaming service – you “use the movie” when you need it, without buying the entire collection. As a result, cloud solutions can be cheaper to maintain and easier to scale.

If you work in manufacturing, you know that data security is sacred. Losing data can stop an entire factory. That’s why, regardless of whether you choose on-premise or cloud, data backups happen on multiple levels:

In practice, this means that even during a blackout or network outage, production can continue in a local emergency mode – data is collected and synchronized with the rest of the system once the connection is restored.

In the cloud model, data security is ensured by certified data centers with continuous monitoring and hardware redundancy – similar to online banking.

One of the biggest advantages of modern web systems is mobility. explitia systems run on any device with a web browser– laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Operators on the production floor use touch panels, team leaders use tablets, and management can access production data from their office or home browser.

In practice, this means that:

Mobility isn’t just about convenience – it accelerates information flow and enables faster operational decisions.

To sum up, the choice between a local and a cloud-based system depends on your needs, IT policies, and production scale.

Here’s a practical summary:

In practice, the hybrid model is becoming increasingly popular, as it combines the advantages of both approaches. Machine communication and data collection happen locally, while reporting, visualization, and analytics take place in the cloud.

Choosing between local and cloud systems isn’t about trends – it’s about strategy. A local system gives greater control and security. The cloud offers cost flexibility and easy scalability. The hybrid model combines both worlds, ensuring production continuity and modern data management.

Thanks to its web-based architecture, the explitia system works seamlessly in any deployment model. All you need is a web browser. The rest depends on how you want to manage your production.